London’s streets practically hum with history. Around most corners you’ll find a hidden marvel, but the heavy hitters are the capital’s great venues. From sipping champagne in a velvet-lined theatre box, to watching Shakespeare under open skies, each space has something truly marvellous about it.
We’re going to visit three of London’s most iconic venues and slices of history and see how they’re continuing to write their own stories even now.
Shakespeare’s Globe
Step inside the Globe, one of London’s most iconic venues, and you’ll be gratulated with 16th century excitement – gratulated? That’s a word Shakespeare himself made up, it means greeted or welcomed. You’ll immediately notice the creak of oak benches and the earthy scent of the stage floor. Looking down you’ll hear the chatter of “groundlings” who’ve paid just £5 to stand where Londoners once gathered for their first taste of Hamlet or Twelfth Night. Though it was rebuilt in 1997 (just 230 metres from its original Bankside location), it’s still incredibly close to the ‘real deal’. You can take part in tours and workshops alongside performances too. In fact, in 2020, its live-streamed productions reached over 4 million viewers! It might be a bit bold of a claim, but we think Shakespeare would have approved.
The Hippodrome
When the Hippodrome opened in 1900, audiences flocked to see water spectacles in its vast stage tank. It was one of the largest around at the time, but that wasn’t all, you could also see circus acts suspended from the ceiling, and huge stars too. Julie Andrews made a name for herself performing there. Unlike The Globe, in the decades since, the Hippodrome has worn many hats: a cabaret venue, a talk-of-the-town nightclub in the ’80s, and now a glittering, multi-floor entertainment complex.
Today, visitors can dine at the award-winning Heliot Steak House, catch live performances in the cabaret theatre, and experience one of the most varied gaming floors in the country, but the architectural marvels all remain intact. In yet another move that proves it’s not stuck in the past, the Hippodrome has embraced the digital era. Its online platform brings the buzz of a real live casino to the UK, but from wherever you want to play. It’s a clever way of bringing professional dealers, real-time play, and multi-camera angles to create the Hippodrome experience at home. It’s this kind of out of the box thinking that has helped this entertainment venue keep its doors open for over 120 years.
The Savoy
Opened in 1889 as Britain’s first luxury hotel to feature electric lights, lifts, and hot running water, (yes, all three!) The Savoy quickly became the choice of anybody who was anybody. Its Savoy Grill, that’s now overseen by Gordon Ramsay – has served everything from Escoffier’s peach melba to Ramsay’s beef Wellington. Though it undergoes regular refurbishments, each one makes sure to keep the décor a perfect blend of Edwardian elegance and Art Deco glamour. The menu changes too, but never enough to surprise guests. In fact, its Thames Foyer continues to host one of the most celebrated afternoon teas in the capital.
London’s iconic venues endure because they adapt. All of these buildings manage to continue honouring their heritage while embracing new ways to connect with audiences. It’s this that’s helping them continue to write their history, well into the 21st century.
Images courtesy of unsplash.com and pexels.com
